A teenager has been badly injured after being attacked by a Shark while swimming at Fort Macon State Park on North Carolina's Crystal Coast on Sunday 2 June 2019. Paige Winter, 17, received severe lacerations to her limbs, and was only released by the animal after her father, Charlie Winter, described as a marine, firefighter and paramedic, punched it several times. She was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, where she underwent surgery, but unfortunately has lost several fingers and a leg. Despite her injuries, Ms Paige has issued a statement asking people to respect Sharks and their environment. Fellow students at New Bern High School have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for her medical expenses.
Paige Winter, 17, attacked by a Shark on a North Carolina beach on 2 June 2019. GoFundMe.
Despite their fearsome reputation,
attacks by Sharks
are relatively rare. Most attacks on Humans by Sharks are
thought to be mistakes, made by species that feed principally on Marine Mammals
(which we superficially resemble when we enter the water), gaining the
majority of their nutrition from the thick adipose (fat) layers of these
animals (which we lack). Due to this, when Sharks do attack Humans
these attacks are often broken off without the victim being consumed.
Such attacks frequently result in severe injuries, but are seldom
immediately fatal, with victims likely to survive if they receive
immediate medical attention.
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